On
Charmaine’s blog yesterday she posted a list of 100 things and the object was to copy the list, bold the items you have done and post it for everyone to read but I am going to do this a little bit differently (big shocker right?). In reading this list it occurred to me that there is a lot I have done (half of the list exactly in fact!) but also a lot I have not and it got me thinking about the upcoming American holiday of Thanksgiving.
Each of the experiences below is just a random sampling of what can shape a person’s life and I sincerely hope each of you take this and even if you do not post the list to a blog or other location, look over the items and be grateful for the experiences you have had while challenging yourself to try some of those things you have not. I have separated into three groups-- have done, not yet and no freaking way (if I can help it). If you want to play along in the standard way check out the link above to Charmaine & grab the list in order!
Have Done1. Started your own blog (2 in fact and both just
received an award yesterday! More on that to follow)
2. Slept under the stars (on the beach - awesome, in the woods - not as awesome)
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland (well World about 10 times so I think it counts)
8. Climbed a mountain (lots)
9. Held a praying mantis (I think but it could have just been a grasshopper, was a long time ago)
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea (not while on a boat but over the ocean a lot)
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty (as far up as they let us go at the time)
18. Grown your own vegetables
21. Had a pillow fight
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill (this used to be a fairly common occurrence when I worked in an office, in the last year I have barely even taken a day off for holidays and have not been sick at all)
24. Built a snow fort
26. Gone skinny dipping (only once, it was effing freezing!)
29. Seen a total eclipse (of the heart?)
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset (both)
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors (Ireland only, never been to Lithuania)
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied (its all in perception of satisfaction)
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight (one of my favorite activities)
47. Had your portrait painted (drawn in pencil at a bar once & I didn’t know it was even happening until he handed it to me at the end of the night, I was so flattered but completely embarrassed)
48. Gone deep sea fishing
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling (snorkel, no scuba but I plan to someday)
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
57. Started a business
60. Served at a soup kitchen (this is one of the single most gratifying things I have ever done, every single person should do this at least once)
61. Sold Girl Scout cookies (Samoas, or whatever they are called now, and Thin Mints rock my world)
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
67. Bounced a check (yeah too many, luckily that was a long time ago!)
68. Flown in a helicopter (I was about 3 or so and my dad was in the military. My mom and sister who was a baby at the time stayed on the ground while I got to go up in the military helicopter, so freaking cool!)
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten caviar
73. Stood in Times Square (tried to but number of people walking kind of forces you to keep moving most of the time)
75. Been fired from a job
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle (never driven one, love to ride on the back though)
82. Bought a brand new car
84. Had your picture in the newspaper (a few times mostly for gymnastics, luckily never the police blotter)
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
88. Had chickenpox (another fun memory…my sister and I had it at the same time. It was July 4th and we watched fireworks from the way back of the station wagon then went back to soak in an oatmeal bath)
91. Met someone famous
93. Lost a loved one
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Read an entire book in one day
Not Yet3. Played in a band (Does Rock Band count?)
4. Visited Hawaii (high on the list)
10. Sang a solo (Does it count while driving?)
12. Visited Paris (also way up there, just mentioned wanting to do this while watching
Funny Face the other night)
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France (will do when I get there)
25. Held a lamb
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice (MUST get to Italy)
31. Hit a home run (maybe in grade school but do not remember, likely not)
32. Been on a cruise
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language (plan on doing this in the next year)
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person (see 28)
39. Gone rock climbing (no but where is the white water rafting question?)
40. Seen Michelangelo's David (28)
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant (never thought of this but now I want to go and do it today)
44. Visited Africa
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person (again…28)
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
55. Been in a movie (would love to put this on the have list!)
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma (have not tried in a long time, used to not be able to because I weighed less than the minimum requirement, don’t know if it has changed)
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
72. Pieced a quilt
74. Toured the Everglades
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person (my sister has lived in Arizona over 13 years and we still have not done this)
80. Published a book (I
FULLY intend to achieve this, a few times)
81. Visited the Vatican (well if I haven’t seen the Sistine Chapel…)
83. Walked in Jerusalem
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating (both individually not in conjunction)
89. Saved someone’s life
92. Joined a book club
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
No Freaking Way (If I Can Help It)11. Bungee jumped (oh
hell no!!)
15. Adopted a child
20. Slept on an overnight train
22. Hitch hiked (too scary these days)
27. Run a Marathon (ah hahaha! I don’t even run to the bathroom when I have to pee)
41. Sung karaoke
46. Been transported in an ambulance
65. Gone sky diving (see 11)
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
77. Broken a bone (lots of fractures, couple sprains but never a break)
90. Sat on a jury
94. Had a baby
97. Been involved in a lawsuit